Daddy Warbucks

Back in antiquity, Fayetteville area liquor stores and bars had a little arrangement with area convenience stores and grocery stores.
It was a nice little understood agreement: no beer sales at grocery stores or convenience stores (which were just coming into vogue). All the bottled spirits would be sold at either bars or liquor stores.

Then came the big change. The State of Arkansas approved Private Club permits allowing spirits to be sold in bars holding these permits. Then there were more changes in the laws. In the last decade or so, Sunday sales of liquor in restaurants were allowed.

Now more changes are in the wind. A recent filing by Connie Hodges of E-Z Mart #433 at 4026 W. Wedington Drive in Fayetteville, may erupt the whole “deal” brokered long ago by several local attorneys (now deceased), who were recognized “experts” on state liquor laws.

The convenience store on Wedington has applied for a retail beer off premises and small farm winery retail permit. That decision will soon to be heard down in Little Rock by the state Alcohol Beverage Control Board.

But back to the “deal” in Fayetteville that’s been in place for decades. The lawyers brokering that deal—and one in particular, the late Marshall Carlisle—knew more about liquor laws, private club permits and sundry laws involving alcohol than anyone Daddy W. has ever known.

The old agreement kept the gas-and-go spots from being stocked with glass cooler cases of beer where gasoline was also being sold.

Will this change? If so, will this lead to some of the leading grocery stores next asking for native wine and off premise beer permits?

Go to Little Rock and some other places in Arkansas and you can pick up a six pack right along with that gallon of milk at some of the larger grocery chains.

Stay tuned. This will be a hot one.

BIG QUESTION
What expenses are Americans facing that has a dollar sign ($) and a 5 followed by 11, yes 11 zeros? Find the answer at the bottom of these ramblings.

MORE BEEF CUTS
Tyson Foods announced more cuts to its Kansas beef processing units. The 200 to 300 jobs are a big blow to the economy as fewer and fewer cattle are coming to slaughter. Higher feed costs are said to blame.

FEWER RABBITS
The Northwest Arkansas rabbit slaughter market is also “down” in numbers by the recent boost in feed costs. For example, the bales of alfalfa hay have jumped from $8 to $11 overnight. Officials with Pel-Freeze, the Rogers based rabbit industry, says the price of soybeans has also gone up as more and more farmers and farms are switching to bio diesel fuel grains such as corn.

GOOD HONOR
The local Economic Development Council last month honored Coach J. Frank Broyles on his 50 years as Coach and Athletic Director at the University of Arkansas. During his tenure the EDC said in its presentation, Coach Broyles was responsible for almost $3 billion in development in the area. Woo. That’s almost $58 million a year for each of the 50 years, but Daddy W. doesn’t doubt it one bit. Congrats Coach.

NOW OPEN
Pat Flippo’s Senior Day Care Center finally opened in Johnson. Flippo, a long time figure in nursing homes in Central Arkansas, was also a former administrator of the VA Nursing Home. The new facility has a low rate of around $10 an hour for the senior day care.

BIG ANSWER
What has a $5 followed by 11 zeros? That is the projected total cost of medical care for U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Wow!